The Senior Graduation Project began at East Rutherford High School in the fall of 2001.

Senior Project is a culminating activity that brings together a student's cumulative learning. Rather than the traditional literary-based research in English IV, students are given a choice. Students research a self-selected topic instead of an assigned topic to demonstrate mastery of research, writing, and presentation skills. Students are required to select mentors who are experts on their topics to help them through the research process. In addition to the written research paper, students must complete a community-centered product/activity, create a digital portfolio and web page, as well as present the research formally to a panel of judges on Senior Project Boards' Night.

We feel strongly that the Senior Project offers students latitude in their research that will enable them to experience successes and will engender them the confidence they need to become an integral part of society.

We are very pleased with the progress our students show in this process and feel very confident these students are participating in a learning experience that will help to shape their futures--whether they attend college, enlist in the military, or enter the work force. Through students' products, they provide meaningful links between research and the community by sharing their talents and knowledge. These student will learn information; sharpen their research, writing, and presentation skills; manage their time; and enrich their senior year with experiences they will cherish following graduation.

The Senior Graduation Project Components

1. 8-10 page research paper - Each student is required to choose a topic of interest to research. We strongly encourage all students to seriously consider researching the careers they are thinking about pursuing in the future, as this is a valuable opportunity to find out more about these fields and possibly help them make more educated decisions about their futures.
2. Community-Based Product Work - The students must complete product work that is a logical outgrowth of their research. The students are required to dedicate a minimum of 10 hours to their product work, and, more importantly, they are expected to STRETCH themselves through the challenge of their chosen activity/activities. Students must involve the community by creating awareness of their research and/or benefitting a specific community through their product work. Students may choose multiple smaller activities or one major activity for their products. Product work will be showcased in a digital portfolio. Students will be required to provide evidence of product work (photos, verification signatures, etc.) via Product Conferences on specific dates prior to product deadline to ensure students are completing work in a timely manner.
3. Webpage (displaying the student’s work) - Each student will create a web page (after receiving web design instructions in class) which will showcase the student’s efforts in completing his/her Graduation Project. The student’s research paper, his/her digital product portfolio, and any relevant additional material will be posted on this page.
4. A Keynote Slideshow - Students will design a Keynote slideshow to use during their final presentations. Facts, statistics, relevant materials, photographs, etc. which will contribute to an audience member’s better understanding of the topic and which will assist the student in giving his/her oral presentation are appropriate for the slideshow.
5. An 8-10 minute oral presentation- All students will give an 8-10 minute oral presentation before a panel of judges from the community and student-invited guests. The presentation is a formal event in which each student shares credible information on his/her topic gleaned through the research process and showcases product work completed as logical outgrowths from the topic knowledge.

Senior Graduation Project Mentoring

Mentor Training is held once each semester at the beginning of the term to acquaint potential mentors with the Graduation Project process and the mentor's role in this process.

Mentors will receive a Mentor Packet at the training. It includes all necessary paper work for him/her to complete when he/she meets with the student at designated times throughout the semester. If at any time during the semester the mentor needs another copy, he/she can email the student's teacher, Mrs. Allen (allenj@rcsnc.org), or Mrs. Morgan (mmorgan@rcsnc.org).

*Mentor Training lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Further mentoring information can be found HERE and explain the Senior Graduation Project process and the mentor's role in making this worthwhile project a success for students. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Allen or Mrs. Morgan or call the school at 828-245-6424.

Mastery of Student Projects

Mastery of Senior Project is a distinction for students who excel in all components of their Senior Projects. While it is our goal for each student to “master” his/her Senior Project, it is also important that we recognize those students who have truly “owned” their Senior Projects…who have gone above and beyond the requirements and expectations established for the course.

To be eligible to present for Mastery, several criteria are considered. On Boards’ Night, judges are invited to nominate students whom they feel have mastered their Senior Projects. However, the judges’ perceptions are based only on review of the students’ web pages and oral presentations. Hence, what the judges see are only the final components—not the level of work that leads to those final components.

To be offered the opportunity to present for the distinction of Mastery, a student must have submitted all Graduation Project assignments on time. This includes all phases of all assignments (i.e. source and note cards, annotated sources, Mentor paperwork and Notes, Product updates/documentation, as well as rough and final drafts of all components). Not only must all assignments be submitted on time, the level of work must be at or above standard expectations.

Students who are extended an invitation to present for Mastery may accept or decline the opportunity. Those who achieve Mastery are recognized for their excellence during the Graduation ceremony and are awarded a monetary stipend from the McNair Educational Foundation.